Network functions for energy consumption tracking and access control, and methods of operating the same

Abstract

Disclosed is a method (6) of operating an Energy Consumption Monitoring Function, ECMF, (2) of a mobile network (5). The method (6) comprises receiving (61) at least one first message (9) respectively being indicative of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit (909) of a network element (1) serving a slice of the mobile network (5). The method (6) further comprises receiving (63) a request for a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5). The method (6) further comprises aggregating (64) the respective proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the at least one first message (9) to the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5). The method (6) further comprises sending (65) the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5). This creates energy consumption awareness in the mobile network (5).

Description

[0001] NETWORK FUNCTIONS FOR ENERGY CONSUMPTION TRACKING AND ACCESS CONTROL, AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of mobile networking, and especially to various network functions interacting with one another to achieve energy consumption tracking and access control in mobile networks.

[0004] BACKGROUND ART

[0005] 6G mobile network systems are under development and envisioned to make extensive use of energy saving technologies, at least because energy preservation and use of green energy sources will soon be required by regulation.

[0006] One important product or feature that mobile operators may sell to VNOs (virtual network operators) or vertical customers (manufacturing, industry, automotive, etc.) is network slicing. Network slicing enables mobile operators to partition and sell their networks to specific network customers.

[0007] Currently the mechanisms of slicing in the context of limiting resource usage relate to admission control based on the number of UEs and PDU sessions of a certain slice. What the system does is basically put a limit on the number of UEs and PDUs session that can be admitted into a slice, without taking into account energy consumption per se. More specifically, current mobile core architectures neither feature energy consumption / efficiency awareness at slice level nor impose limits on energy consumption / efficiency.

[0008] SUMMARY

[0009] It is an object to overcome the above-mentioned and other drawbacks.

[0010] The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further implementation forms are apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

[0011] According to a first aspect, a method of operating an Energy Consumption Monitoring Function, ECMF, of a mobile network is provided. The method comprises receiving at least one first message respectively being indicative of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of a network element serving a slice of the mobile network. The method further comprises receiving a request for a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network. The method further comprises aggregating the respective proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the at least one first message to the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network. The method further comprises sending the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network.

[0012] This energy consumption reporting on slice level creates energy consumption awareness in mobile networks, based on which it is possible to realize:

[0013] - Per slice energy consumption and / or efficiency reporting and calculation,

[0014] - Per UE energy consumption and / or efficiency reporting and calculation,

[0015] - Energy aware slice and / or generic admission control (i.e., imposing limits on energy consumption / efficiency),

[0016] - Enablement for SLA-based business model and direct impact on product, and

[0017] - Transparent exposure of energy information to other NFs, e.g. AF for better governance and reporting. An energy consumption per time unit as used herein may refer to the energy consumed by a device needed to achieve an intended application performance over the time unit. The energy consumption per time unit may be expressed in Watts per hour, for example.

[0018] A slice or network slice as used herein may refer to a logical end-to-end network providing specific network capabilities and network characteristics, thereby supporting various service properties for network slice customers. For example, a slice may comprise a RAN and UPF network functions.

[0019] In a possible implementation form, the network element may comprise one of: a Network Function, NF, a User Plane Function, UPF, or a Radio Access Network, RAN, an OAM Function on behalf of one or more network elements, and a server platform of a data center.

[0020] This provides the respective energy consumption of all the network elements serving the slice to the ECMF, thereby enabling energy consumption awareness in the mobile network.

[0021] An OAM or Operation, Administration and Maintenance Function as used herein may refer to a management plane function especially in support of fault management and performance management of a mobile network.

[0022] A NF or Network Function as used herein may refer to a processing function in a mobile network having a defined functional behavior and defined interfaces.

[0023] An UPF or User Plane Function as used herein may refer to a data plane NF being configured to serve as an interconnect point between radio access network and data network (i.e. user plane encapsulation and decapsulation of PDU sessions), and / or as a PDU session anchor point for providing mobility within and between radio access networks.

[0024] In a possible implementation form, the at least one first message may comprise one or more of: a timestamp of the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the network element serving the slice, an identifier of the slice, an identifier of a UE, a number of PDU sessions, a traffic per PDU session, an energy consumption per PDU session, a number of service subscriptions, a network load, the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the network element serving the slice, and an energy efficiency per time unit of the network element serving the slice.

[0025] This relates the respective energy consumption of all the network elements serving the slice to particular time instants, thereby enabling monitoring of trends in energy consumption.

[0026] Energy efficiency as used herein may refer to a relation between a useful output and an energy consumption.

[0027] A PDU session as used herein may refer to an association between a UE and a data network that provides a PDU connectivity service.

[0028] In a possible implementation form, the at least one first message may further comprise: an identifier of a further UE, and a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the network element serving the slice for the further UE.

[0029] This enables reporting of energy consumption for more than one UE in a same first message, thereby reducing an energy consumption related signaling. In a possible implementation form, the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the network element may comprise a product of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the server platform for the network element, and a proportional factor comprising one of: a proportional factor for a slice being served by the network element, and a proportional factor for a UE or PDU session of the UE being served by the network element.

[0030] This enables reporting of energy consumption for slices and UEs, as needed.

[0031] In a possible implementation form, the proportional factor for the slice being served by the network element may comprise one or more of: a proportional factor of a traffic of the slice in a total traffic of the network element, a proportional factor of a number of PDU sessions of the slice in a total number of PDU sessions of the network element, a proportional factor of a number of User Equipments, UEs, of the slice in a total number of UEs of the network element, and a proportional factor of a number of service requests of the slice in a total number of service requests of the network element.

[0032] This enables various energy consumption calculation methods for slices.

[0033] In a possible implementation form, the proportional factor for the UE or the PDU session of the UE being served by the network element may comprise one or more of: a proportional factor of a traffic per UE in a total traffic of the network element, a proportional factor of a number of PDU sessions of the UE in a total number of PDU sessions of the network element, a proportional factor of the UE in a total number of UEs of the network element, a proportional factor of a traffic of the UE in a total traffic of the network element, and a proportional factor of a number of service requests per UE in a total number of service requests of the network element.

[0034] This enables various energy consumption calculation methods for UEs.

[0035] In a possible implementation form, the request for the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network may be received from a Network Function, NF, of the mobile network; and the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network may be sent to the NF of the mobile network.

[0036] This enables reporting of energy consumption via the control plane.

[0037] In a possible implementation form, the request for the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network may be received from a management plane of the mobile network; and the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network may be sent to the management plane of the mobile network.

[0038] This enables reporting of energy consumption via the management plane.

[0039] In a possible implementation form, the sending of the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network may comprise verifying that the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network exceeds a threshold.

[0040] This avoids insignificant reporting of energy consumption, thereby reducing an energy consumption related signaling.

[0041] According to a second aspect, a method of operating a Network Slice Admission Control Function, NSACF, of a mobile network is provided. The method comprises receiving a request for admission of a User Equipment, UE, or a PDU session into a slice of the mobile network. The method further comprises sending a request for a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network, the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network being associated with the UE or the PDU session. The method further comprises receiving a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network from an Energy Consumption Monitoring Function, ECMF, of the mobile network. The method further comprises evaluating the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network against a number of thresholds and associated admission actions of an energy control policy. The method further comprises sending a third message being indicative of the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network and / or a result of the evaluation.

[0042] A NS ACF or Network Slice Admission Control Function as used herein may refer to a control plane NF being configured to monitor and control an admission of UEs and / or PDU sessions per network slice being subject to network slice admission control.

[0043] In a possible implementation form, the energy control policy may comprise one or more of: a threshold associated with admission in accordance with a maximum QoS, a threshold associated with admission in accordance with a minimum QoS, a threshold associated with admission in accordance with a medium QoS between the maximum QoS and the minimum QoS, and a threshold associated with no admission.

[0044] This enables differentiation of QoS levels and QoS-differentiated billing.

[0045] According to a third aspect, a method of operating an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF, or Session Management Function, SMF, of a mobile network is provided. The method comprises sending a request for admission of a User Equipment, UE, or a PDU session into a slice of the mobile network. The method further comprises receiving a third message being indicative of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network and / or a result of an evaluation of the same against a number of thresholds and associated admission actions of an energy control policy, the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network being associated with the UE or the PDU session. The method further comprises admitting the UE or the PDU session into the slice in accordance with the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network and the result of the evaluation.

[0046] An AMF or Access and Mobility Management Function as used herein may refer to a control plane NF being configured to allow UEs to register and deregister with the mobile network, establish and release control plane signaling connections to the UE, managing handovers between base stations and maintaining session continuity even so.

[0047] An SMF or Session Management Function as used herein may refer to a control plane NF being configured to interact with the decoupled data plane i.e., the User Plane Function, UPF, to create, update and remove Protocol Data Unit, PDU, sessions, and to manage session context.

[0048] In a possible implementation form, the admitting may further comprise calculating a prospective energy consumption per time unit of the slice due to the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network.

[0049] This enables an anticipation of the energy consumption after allowing the admission.

[0050] In a possible implementation form, the admitting may further comprise not admitting the UE or the PDU session into the slice if the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network does exceed the threshold associated with no admission, in accordance with the result of the evaluation.

[0051] This enables a first variant of differentiation of QoS levels and QoS-differentiated billing. In a possible implementation form, the admitting may further comprise admitting the UE or the PDU session into the slice if the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network does not exceed the threshold associated with admission in accordance with the maximum QoS, in accordance with the result of the evaluation.

[0052] This enables a second variant of differentiation of QoS levels and QoS-differentiated billing.

[0053] In a possible implementation form, the admitting may further comprise admitting the UE or the PDU session into the slice with a medium Quality of Service, QoS, if the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network does not exceed the threshold associated with admission in accordance with the medium QoS, in accordance with the result of the evaluation.

[0054] This enables a third variant of differentiation of QoS levels and QoS-differentiated billing.

[0055] In a possible implementation form, the admitting may further comprise indicating to the UE that it has been admitted into the slice with the medium QoS.

[0056] This enables a response of the user of the UE to the second or fourth variants of differentiation of QoS levels.

[0057] In a possible implementation form, the admitting may further comprise admitting the UE or the PDU session into the slice with a minimum Quality of Service, QoS, if the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network does not exceed the threshold associated with admission in accordance with the minimum QoS, in accordance with the result of the evaluation.

[0058] This enables a fourth variant of differentiation of QoS levels and QoS-differentiated billing.

[0059] In a possible implementation form, the admitting may further comprise sending a fourth message being indicative of one or more of the thresholds of the energy control policy being exceeded by the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network to a Billing and Charging function and / or to an Application Function, AF, of the mobile network; and admitting the UE or PDU session into the slice following a raise of the threshold associated with admission in accordance with the maximum QoS to at least the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the slice.

[0060] This enables a response of the user of the UE via the Billing and Charging function and / or the Application Function, AF, of the mobile network.

[0061] In a possible implementation form, the request for admission may comprise one or more of: an indication of admission control related to a UE registration or PDU session request, an indication of energy related slice admission control, an identifier of the slice, and an identifier of the UE.

[0062] This enables energy related slice admission control, besides the existing energy unrelated slice admission control.

[0063] According to a fourth aspect, an Energy Consumption Monitoring Function, ECMF, of a mobile network is provided. The ECMF comprises a processor. The processor is configured to receive at least one first message respectively being indicative of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of a network element serving a slice of the mobile network. The processor is further configured to receive a request for a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network. The processor is further configured to aggregate the respective proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the at least one first message to the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network. The processor is further configured to send the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network. In a possible implementation form, the ECMF may form part of a Network Slice Admission Control Function, NSACF, of the mobile network.

[0064] This reduces a control plane signaling between the EDMF and NSACF instances.

[0065] In a possible implementation form, the ECMF may form part of a Network Data Analytics Function, NWDAF, of the mobile network.

[0066] This enables a direct access to energy related network analytics, if available.

[0067] In a possible implementation form, the processor may further be configured to perform the method of operating an ECMF of a mobile network of the first aspect or any of its implementations.

[0068] According to a fifth aspect, a Network Slice Admission Control Function, NSACF, of a mobile network is provided. The NSACF comprises a processor. The processor is configured to receive a request for admission of a User Equipment, UE, or a PDU session into a slice of the mobile network. The processor is further configured to send a request for a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network, the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network being associated with the UE or the PDU session. The processor is further configured to receive a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network from an Energy Consumption Monitoring Function, ECMF, of the mobile network. The processor is further configured to evaluate the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network against a number of thresholds and associated admission actions of an energy control policy. The processor is further configured to send a third message being indicative of the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network and / or a result of the evaluation.

[0069] In a possible implementation form, the processor may further be configured to perform the method of operating the NSACF of a mobile network of the second aspect or any of its implementations.

[0070] According to a sixth aspect, an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF, or Session Management Function, SMF, of a mobile network is provided, comprising a processor. The processor is configured to send a request for admission of a User Equipment, UE, or a PDU session into a slice of the mobile network. The processor is further configured to receive a third message being indicative of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network and / or a result of an evaluation of the same against a number of thresholds and associated admission actions of an energy control policy, the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network being associated with the UE or the PDU session. The processor is further configured to admit the UE or the PDU session into the slice in accordance with the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network and the result of the evaluation.

[0071] In a possible implementation form, the processor may further be configured to perform the method of operating an AMF or SMF of a mobile network of the third aspect or any of its implementations.

[0072] According to a seventh aspect, a computer program is provided, comprising a program code for performing the method of the first aspect, the method of the second aspect or the method of the third aspect when executed on a computer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0073] The above-described aspects and implementations will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar reference numerals designate the same or similar elements.

[0074] The drawings are to be regarded as being schematic representations, and elements illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. Rather, the various elements are represented such that their function and general purpose become apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0075] FIG. 1 illustrates various network functions of a mobile network and methods of operating the same in accordance with the present disclosure; and

[0076] FIG. 2 illustrates a first message in accordance with the present disclosure being receivable by an Energy Consumption Monitoring Function, ECMF, of a mobile network.

[0077] DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS

[0078] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the disclosure, and which show, by way of illustration, specific aspects of implementations of the present disclosure or specific aspects in which implementations of the present disclosure may be used. It is understood that implementations of the present disclosure may be used in other aspects and comprise structural or logical changes not depicted in the figures. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims.

[0079] For instance, it is understood that a disclosure in connection with a described method may also hold true for a corresponding apparatus or system configured to perform the method and vice versa. For example, if one or a plurality of specific method steps are described, a corresponding device may include one or a plurality of units, e.g. functional units, to perform the described one or plurality of method steps (e.g. one unit performing the one or plurality of steps, or a plurality of units each performing one or more of the plurality of steps), even if such one or more units are not explicitly described or illustrated in the figures. On the other hand, for example, if a specific apparatus is described based on one or a plurality of units, e.g. functional units, a corresponding method may include one step to perform the functionality of the one or plurality of units (e.g. one step performing the functionality of the one or plurality of units, or a plurality of steps each performing the functionality of one or more of the plurality of units), even if such one or plurality of steps are not explicitly described or illustrated in the figures. Further, it is understood that the features of the various exemplary implementations and / or aspects described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise.

[0080] FIG. 1 illustrates various network functions 2, 3, 4 of a mobile network 5 and methods 6, 7, 8 of operating the same in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0081] From top left to top right, FIG.1 features one or more network elements 1 of the mobile network 5, an Energy Consumption Monitoring Function, ECMF, 2, a Network Slice Admission Control Function, NSACF, 3 and an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF, 4a or Session Management Function, SMF, 4b.

[0082] Depending on the particular implementation, the ECMF 2 may form part of the NSACF 3 or of a Network Data Analytics Function, NWDAF, (not shown) of the mobile network 5. For example, such an NWD AF can apply machine learning mechanisms to predict specific changes in the energy consumption and preemptively trigger a warning to the customer (e.g. when 80% of energy budget has been consumed) so that the customer can react. Such a prediction may be based on statistics of past calculations and / or past network traffic (i.e., number of PDU sessions / number of UEs per slice).

[0083] The respective network element 1 may comprise one of: a (i.e., an arbitrary) Network Function, NF, la or a User Plane Function, UPF or Radio Access Network, RAN, lb, or a server platform of a data center hosting the respective network element 1. Note that the respective network element 1 forms part of a control plane 52 of the mobile network 5 according to this implementation. The respective network element 1 may alternatively or additionally be represented by an OAM function 1c for the same of the mobile network 5. Note that this OAM function 1c forms part of a management plane 57 of the mobile network 5.

[0084] Just below, FIG.1 further indicates methods 6, 7, 8 of operating the respective network function 2, 3, 4. Said network functions 2, 3, 4 comprise or - fully or partially - allocate respective processors 27, 57, 41 being configured to perform the respective method 6, 7, 8. For example, the respective processor 27, 31, 41 may comprise one or more of: a central processing unit, CPU, a network processing unit, NPU, a field programmable gate array, FPGA, an application-specific integrated circuit, ASIC, and the like.

[0085] Briefly, the processor 27 of the ECMF 2 is configured to receive 61 a at least one first message 9 respectively being indicative of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit 909 of a network element 7 serving a slice of the mobile network 5 (note that this may include a threshold crossing as well); receive 63 a request for a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5; aggregate 64 the respective proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the at least one first message 9 to the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 ; and send 65 the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5.

[0086] The ECMF 2 is thus supposed to interact with slices to collect energy consumption / efficiency information of UEs or slices, and to interacts with the NSACF 3 to trigger SLA related admission control into a slice.

[0087] Briefly, the processor 57 of the NSACF 5 is configured to receive 72 a request for admission of a User Equipment, UE, or a PDU session into a slice of the mobile network 5; send 75 a request for a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5, the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 being associated with the slice or the UE or the PDU session; receive 75 a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 from the ECMF 2 of the mobile network 5 ; evaluate 76 the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 against a number of thresholds and associated admission actions of an energy control policy; and send 77 a third message being indicative of the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 and / or a result of the evaluation.

[0088] Briefly, the processor 41 of the AMF or SMF 4a b is configured to send 82 a request for admission of a User Equipment, UE, or a PDU session into a slice of the mobile network 5; receive 87 a third message being indicative of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 and / or a result of an evaluation of the same against a number of thresholds and associated admission actions of an energy control policy, the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 being associated with the slice or the UE or the PDU session; and to admit 88 the UE or the PDU session into the slice in accordance with the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 and the result of the evaluation.

[0089] An interaction of the methods 6, 7, 8 of operating these network functions 2, 5, 4 will be explained next. Collection of energy consumption information

[0090] The method 6 of operating the ECMF 2 starts with a step of receiving 61 at least one first message 9 respectively being indicative of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit 909 of a network element 1 serving a slice of the mobile network 5.

[0091] According to a control plane reporting option, all the network elements 1 serving the slice may provide such a first message 9 to the ECMF 2 directly.

[0092] According to a management plane reporting option, an OAM function 1c of the mobile network 5 may provide such a first message 9 to the ECMF 2 on behalf of one or more network elements 1 serving the slice, after retrieval of the message contents (see dashed arrow between la b and 1c in FIG. 1) from the respective network element 1.

[0093] Generally, the ECMF 2 receives 61 a plurality of first messages 9 according to both reporting options. The first messages 9 may be received 61 at regular intervals and / or on demand.

[0094] The phrase “proportionate energy consumption per time unit of a network element serving a slice” may require more explanation.

[0095] Assume that the network element 1 e.g., the NF or UPF la / b serving the slice is implemented as a software instance and executed on a server platform in a data center, and that the server platform hosts a plurality of such network elements 1.

[0096] The server platform as a whole, exhibits a certain energy consumption per time unit. This “energy consumption per time unit of the server platform” may be credited to the respective network element 1 of the plurality.

[0097] The particular share of the “energy consumption per time unit of the server platform” that is attributable to the network element 1 serving the slice may hence be called “proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the server platform for the network element serving the slice”. Note that the term “proportionate” here relates to the portion (0 to 100%) of the network element 1 in a total (of the server platform).

[0098] In turn, the particular share of the “energy consumption per time unit for the network element serving the slice” that is attributable to the slice itself or to a UE or PDU session of the UE being served by the network element 1 may therefore be called “proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the network element serving the slice”. Note that the term “proportionate” here relates to the portion (0 to 100%) of the slice, UE or PDU session in a total (of the network element 1 serving the slice).

[0099] FIG. 2 illustrates the first message 9 in accordance with the present disclosure being receivable by the ECMF 2.

[0100] The at least one first message 9 may comprise one or more of:

[0101] - a timestamp 901 of the proportionate energy consumption per time unit 909 of the network element 1 serving the slice,

[0102] - an identifier 902 of the slice (e.g., a Single - Network Slice Selection Assistance Information, S-NSSAI),

[0103] - an identifier 903 of a UE, if applicable,

[0104] - a number of PDU sessions 904,

[0105] - a traffic per PDU session 905,

[0106] - an energy consumption per PDU session 906, - a number of service subscriptions 907,

[0107] - a network load 908,

[0108] - the proportionate (i.e., slice-related or UE-related) energy consumption per time unit 909 of the network element 1 serving the slice, and

[0109] - an energy efficiency per time unit 910 of the network element 1 serving the slice.

[0110] To achieve a reporting of energy consumption for more than one UE, the at least one first message 9 may further comprise:

[0111] - an identifier 911 of a further UE, and

[0112] - a proportionate energy consumption per time unit 912 of the network element 1 serving the slice for the further UE.

[0113] For example, when many UEs join a slice for which reporting has not been performed recently, this may trigger a single energy consumption reporting event for said UEs.

[0114] To achieve a reporting of the slice-related “proportionate” energy consumption, the proportionate energy consumption per time unit 909 of the network element 1 may comprise a product of the afore-mentioned proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the server platform for the network element 1, and a proportional factor for a slice being served by the network element 1.

[0115] In turn, said slice-related proportional factor may comprise one or more of: a proportional factor (weight _per slice) of a traffic of the slice in a total traffic of the network element 1 (weight calculation based on total local energy consumption, independent of PDU sessions or UE count: weight _per slice = traffic _per slice / total traffic), a proportional factor of a number of PDU sessions of the slice in a total number of PDU sessions of the network element 1 (weight calculation based on number of PDU sessions: weight _per_slice = number_of_PDU_sessions_in_slice / total_number_of_PDU_sessions), a proportional factor of a number of U ser Equipments, UEs, of the slice in a total number of UEs of the network element 1 (weight calculation based on the number of UEs in a slice: weight _per slice = number o ' UEs in slice / total numb er of UEs), and a proportional factor of a number of service requests of the slice in a total number of service requests of the network element 1 (weight calculation based on the number of service requests in a slice: weight _per slice = number of service requests in slice / total _number of service _requests).

[0116] To achieve a reporting of the UE-related “proportionate” energy consumption, the proportionate energy consumption per time unit 909 of the network element 1 may comprise a product of the afore-mentioned proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the server platform for the network element 1, and a proportional factor for a UE or PDU session of the UE being served by the network element 1.

[0117] In turn, said UE-related proportional factor may comprise one or more of: a proportional factor (weight _per_UE) of a traffic per UE in a total traffic of the network element 1 (weight calculation based on total local energy consumption, independent of PDU sessions or UE count: weight _per_UE = traffic _per_UE / total traffic), a proportional factor of a number of PDU sessions of the UE in a total number of PDU sessions of the network element 1 (weight calculation based on number of PDU sessions: weight _per_UE = number of PDU sessions / total_number_of_PDU_sessions), a proportional factor of the (one) UE in a total number of UEs of the network element 1 (weight calculation based on the number of UEs in a slice, yielding an average energy consumption without considering whether the UE is active or not: weight _per_UE = 1 / total numb er of UEs), a proportional factor of a traffic of the UE in a total traffic of the network element 1 (weight calculation based on the traffic sent / received of UE: weight _per_UE = traffic sent _received / total_number_ofjraffic_sent_received), and a proportional factor of a number of service requests per UE in a total number of service requests of the network element 1 (weight calculation based on the number of service requests in a slice: -weight _per_UE = number of service requests _per_UE / total _number of service _requests).

[0118] Admission control in view of collected energy consumption information

[0119] Returning to FIG. 1, it is noted that admission control is regularly triggered by a user registration or PDU session request.

[0120] The method 8 of operating the AMF or SMF, 4a / b thus starts with a step of sending 82 a request for admission of a User Equipment, UE, or a PDU session into a slice of the mobile network 5.

[0121] Said request for admission may comprise one or more of: an indication of admission control related to a UE registration or PDU session request, an indication of energy related slice admission control, an identifier of the slice (e.g., Network Slice Selection Assistance Information, NSSAI), and an identifier of the UE.

[0122] Corresponding to the sending 82 step, the method 7 of operating the NSACF 3 comprises a step of receiving 72 the request for admission of the UE or PDU session into the slice of the mobile network 5.

[0123] The method 7 of operating the NSACF 3 further comprises sending 73 a request for a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5.

[0124] The phrase “proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5” may require more explanation.

[0125] Assume that the mobile network 5 as a whole, exhibits a certain energy consumption per time unit. This “energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5” may be credited to respective network slices, and even to respective UEs or PDU sessions within the respective network slice.

[0126] The particular share of this “energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5” that is attributable to the slice or the UE or PDU session identified in the sent 73 request may thus be called “proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5”. Note that the term “proportionate” here relates to the portion (0 to 100%) of the slice or the UE or PDU session in a total (of the mobile network 5).

[0127] The method 6 of operating the ECMF 2 resumes with a step of receiving 63 the request for the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5. Note that said request may be received from a NF (the NSACF 3) as shown in FIG. 1 (solid arrow), or alternatively from a management plane 57 of the mobile network 5 (dashed arrow).

[0128] The method 6 of operating the ECMF 2 further comprises a step of aggregating 64 the respective proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the at least one first message 9 to the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5.

[0129] The aggregating 64 step may optionally include selecting a calculation method perNE / NF 1 (i.e., PDU session based, service based, UE based, etc.) and performing per-NF calculation for the whole slice and / or for each UE in the whole slice based on the information collected from different NEs 7 (or OAM). The method 6 of operating the ECMF 2 further comprises a step of sending 65 the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 to the NF (i.e., the NSACF 3) as shown in FIG. 1 (solid arrow) or to the management plane 57 of the mobile network 5 (dashed arrow).

[0130] To avoid insignificant signaling, the sending 65 of the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 may comprise a step of verifying (not shown) that the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 exceeds a threshold (threshold-based reporting). That is to say, reporting is only done once a certain expenditure has occurred, and no reporting is done for locations with little activity of a certain slice.

[0131] Corresponding to the sending 65 step, the method 7 of operating the NSACF 3 further comprises a step of receiving 75 the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 from the ECMF 2 of the mobile network 5.

[0132] The method 7 of operating the NSACF 3 further comprises a step of evaluating 76 the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 against a number of thresholds and associated admission actions of an energy control policy.

[0133] More specifically, the energy control policy may comprise one or more of:

[0134] - a threshold associated with admission in accordance with a maximum QoS,

[0135] - a threshold associated with admission in accordance with a minimum QoS,

[0136] - a threshold associated with admission in accordance with a medium QoS (as agreed with the user in the service level agreement) between the maximum QoS and the minimum QoS, and

[0137] - a threshold associated with no admission.

[0138] The method 7 of operating the NSACF 3 further comprises sending 77 a third message being indicative of the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 and / or a result of the evaluation.

[0139] Corresponding to the sending 77 step, the method 8 of operating the AMF or SMF 4a / b resumes with a step of receiving 87 the third message being indicative of the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 and / or the result of the evaluation of the same against the number of thresholds and associated admission actions of the energy control policy. The proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 is associated with the slice or the UE or the PDU session of the UE.

[0140] The method 8 of operating the AMF or SMF 4a h further comprises a step of admitting 88 the UE or the PDU session into the slice in accordance with the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 and the result of the evaluation.

[0141] The admitting 88 may comprise calculating 881 a prospective energy consumption per time unit of the slice due to the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5.

[0142] The phrase “prospective energy consumption per time unit of the slice” may require more explanation.

[0143] The “proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5” is an additive energy consumption per time unit due to admission of the UE or the PDU session of the UE into the slice, that would add on top of a current energy consumption per time unit of the slice. The “prospective energy consumption per time unit of the slice” thus stands for the sum of the current and additive contributions to the energy consumption per time unit of the slice. In accordance with these considerations, the admitting 88 may further comprise a step of:

[0144] - not admitting 882a the UE or the PDU session into the slice if the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 does exceed the threshold associated with no admission, in accordance with the result of the evaluation,

[0145] - admitting 882b the UE or the PDU session into the slice if the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 does not exceed the threshold associated with admission in accordance with the maximum QoS, in accordance with the result of the evaluation (hard rejection),

[0146] - admitting 882c the UE or the PDU session into the slice with a medium Quality of Service, QoS (e.g., reduced available bandwidth, longer delay / latency , larger delay variations, and the like), if the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 does not exceed the threshold associated with admission in accordance with the medium QoS, in accordance with the result of the evaluation (soft rejection), or

[0147] - admitting 882d the UE or the PDU session into the slice with a minimum Quality of Service, QoS (e.g., minimum bandwidth), if the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 does not exceed the threshold associated with admission in accordance with the minimum QoS, in accordance with the result of the evaluation (soft rejection).

[0148] The admitting 88 may further comprise a step of indicating (not shown) to the UE that it has been admitted into the slice with the medium or minimum QoS.

[0149] The admitting 88 may further comprise a step of sending 883 a fourth message being indicative of one or more of the thresholds of the energy control policy being exceeded by the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network 5 to a Billing and Charging function and / or an Application Function, AF, of the mobile network 5.

[0150] When receiving this trigger, Billing and Charging mechanisms may take action (e.g., using new calculation based on OAM configuration) or notify OAM.

[0151] When receiving this trigger, the AF may act as reporting NF to the application, so that the application is aware of the excess of the energy credit and taking further action.

[0152] For example, this may give rise to a negotiation with a third party (slice owner) in real time to acquire additional network resources while putting the UE registration request on hold.

[0153] Additional network resources may enable a raise of the threshold associated with admission in accordance with the maximum QoS to at least the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the slice.

[0154] Following such a raise, the admitting 88 may further comprise a step of admitting 882e the UE or PDU session into the slice. Note that after the raise of the threshold, this is equivalent to step 882b above.

[0155] Specific use-cases for energy consumption tracking for admissions control comprise:

[0156] - Slice operator wants to become green (The network advertises itself as green by enforcing a specific energy consumption (EC) usage. It actively tracks and reports the usages to the users, urging them to minimize their consumption. Additionally, the network only allows the admission of UEs if the total energy usage is below a predetermined limit),

[0157] - Gamification of EC reduction (The slice operator aims to incentivize users for their environmentally friendly behavior by offering compensation. This compensation can come in the form of discounts, as long as the slice energy limit is not exceeded. In order to achieve carbon neutrality, gamification is considered an integral aspect of the strategy, emphasizing its importance in promoting sustainable practices.), and

[0158] - Green loT Slice (A dedicated slice is designed specifically for various loT devices with the objective of minimizing energy consumption. The loT admission control mechanism ensures that the EC of the slice remains transparent to the users. In the case of new devices seeking admission, the EC budget can only be increased if it can be forwarded to the device vendor (e.g., refrigerators, washing machines, etc.). This approach allows for better management of energy usage while accommodating the inclusion of new energy-efficient devices into the system).

[0159] The present disclosure has been described in conjunction with various implementations as examples. However, other variations can be understood and effected by those persons skilled in the art and practicing the claimed matter, from the studies of the drawings, this disclosure and the independent claims. In the claims as well as in the description the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several entities or items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in the mutual different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used in an advantageous implementation. A computer program may be stored / distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method (6) of operating an Energy Consumption Monitoring Function, ECMF (2), of a mobile network (5), the method (6) comprising:- receiving (61) at least one first message (9) respectively being indicative of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit (909) of a network element (1) serving a slice of the mobile network (5);- receiving (63) a request for a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5);- aggregating (64) the respective proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the at least one first message (9) to the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5); and- sending (65) the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5).

2. The method (6) of claim 1, the network element (1) comprising one of:- a Network Function, NF (la),- a User Plane Function, UPF, or Radio Access Network, RAN, (lb),- an Operation, Administration and Maintenance, OAM, function (1c) on behalf of one or more network elements (la / b), and- a server platform of a data center.

3. The method (6) of claim 1 or claim 2, the at least one first message (9) comprising one or more of:- a timestamp (901) of the proportionate energy consumption per time unit (909) of the network element (1) serving the slice,- an identifier (902) of the slice,- an identifier (903) of a UE,- a number of PDU sessions (904),- a traffic per PDU session (905),- an energy consumption per PDU session (906),- a number of service subscriptions (907),- a network load (908),- the proportionate energy consumption per time unit (909) of the network element (1) serving the slice, and- an energy efficiency per time unit (910) of the network element (1) serving the slice.

4. The method (6) of any one of the claims 1 - 3, the at least one first message (9) further comprising:- an identifier (911 ) of a further UE, and- a proportionate energy consumption per time unit (912) of the network element (1) serving the slice for the further UE.

5. The method (6) of any one of the claims 1 - 4, the proportionate energy consumption per time unit (909) of the network element (1) comprising: a product of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the server platform for the network element (1), and a proportional factor comprising one of:- a proportional factor for a slice being served by the network element (1), and- a proportional factor for a UE or PDU session of the UE being served by the network element (1).

6. The method (6) of claim 5, the proportional factor for the slice being served by the network element (1) comprising one or more of:- a proportional factor of a traffic of the slice in a total traffic of the network element (1),- a proportional factor of a number of PDU sessions of the slice in a total number of PDU sessions of the network element (1),- a proportional factor of a number of U ser Equipments, UEs, of the slice in a total number of UEs of the network element (1), and- a proportional factor of a number of service requests of the slice in a total number of service requests of the network element (1).

7. The method (6) of claim 5, the proportional factor for the UE or the PDU session of the UE being served by the network element (1) comprising one or more of:- a proportional factor of a traffic per UE in a total traffic of the network element (1),- a proportional factor of a number of PDU sessions of the UE in a total number of PDU sessions of the network element (1),- a proportional factor of the UE in a total number of UEs of the network element (1),- a proportional factor of a traffic of the UE in a total traffic of the network element (1), and- a proportional factor of a number of service requests per UE in a total number of service requests of the network element (1).

8. The method (6) of any one of the claims 1 - 7, the request for the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) being received (63) from a Network Function, NF, of the mobile network (5); and the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) being sent (65) to the NF of the mobile network (5).

9. The method (6) of any one of the claims 1 - 7, the request for the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) being received (63) from a management plane of the mobile network (5); and the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) being sent (65) to the management plane of the mobile network (5).

10. The method (6) of any one of the claims 1 - 9, the sending (65) of the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) comprising:- verifying that the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) exceeds a threshold.

11. A method (7) of operating a Network Slice Admission Control Function, NSACF (3), of a mobile network (5), the method (7) comprising:- receiving (72) a request for admission of a User Equipment, UE, or a PDU session into a slice of the mobile network (5);- sending (73) a request for a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5), the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) being associated with the slice or the UE or the PDU session;- receiving (75) a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) from an Energy Consumption Monitoring Function, ECMF (2), of the mobile network (5);- evaluating (76) the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) against a number of thresholds and associated admission actions of an energy control policy; and- sending (77) a third message being indicative of the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) and / or a result of the evaluation.

12. The method (7) of claim 11, the energy control policy comprising one or more of:- a threshold associated with admission in accordance with a maximum QoS,- a threshold associated with admission in accordance with a minimum QoS,- a threshold associated with admission in accordance with a medium QoS between the maximum QoS and the minimum QoS, and- a threshold associated with no admission.

13. A method (8) of operating an Access Management Function, AMF (4a), or Session Management Function, SMF (4b), of a mobile network (5), the method (8) comprising:- sending (81) a request for admission of a User Equipment, UE, or a PDU session into a slice of the mobile network (5);- receiving (87) a third message being indicative of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) and / or a result of an evaluation of the same against a number of thresholds and associated admission actions of an energy control policy, the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) being associated with the slice or the UE or the PDU session; and- admiting (88) the UE or the PDU session into the slice in accordance with the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) and the result of the evaluation.

14. The method (8) of claim 13, the admitting (88) comprising:- calculating (881) a prospective energy consumption per time unit of the slice due to the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5).

15. The method (8) of claim 14, the admitting (88) further comprising:- not admitting (882a) the UE or the PDU session into the slice if the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) does exceed the threshold associated with no admission, in accordance with the result of the evaluation.

16. The method (8) of claim 14, the admitting (88) further comprising:- admitting (882b) the UE or the PDU session into the slice if the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) does not exceed the threshold associated with admission in accordance with the maximum QoS, in accordance with the result of the evaluation.

17. The method (8) of claim 14, the admitting (88) further comprising:- admitting (882c) the UE or the PDU session into the slice with a medium Quality of Service, QoS, if the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) does not exceed the threshold associated with admission in accordance with the medium QoS, in accordance with the result of the evaluation.

18. The method (8) of claim 17, the admitting (88) further comprising:- indicating to the UE that it has been admitted into the slice with the medium QoS.

19. The method (8) of claim 14, the admitting (88) further comprising:- admitting (882d) the UE or the PDU session into the slice with a minimum Quality of Service, QoS, if the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) does not exceed the threshold associated with admission in accordance with the minimum QoS, in accordance with the result of the evaluation.

20. The method (8) of claim 16, the admitting (88) further comprising:- sending (883) a fourth message being indicative of one or more of the thresholds of the energy control policy being exceeded by the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) to a Billing and Charging function and / or to an Application Function, AF, of the mobile network (5); and- admitting (882e) the UE or PDU session into the slice following a raise of the threshold associated with admission in accordance with the maximum QoS to at least the prospective energy consumption per time unit of the slice.

21. The method (8) of any one of the claims 13 - 20, the request for admission comprising one or more of:- an indication of admission control related to a UE registration or PDU session request,- an indication of energy related slice admission control,- an identifier of the slice, and- an identifier of the UE.

22. An Energy Consumption Monitoring Function, ECMF (2), of a mobile network (5), the ECMF (2) comprising a processor (21), configured to:- receive (61) at least one first message (9) respectively being indicative of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit (909) of a network element (1) serving a slice of the mobile network (5);- receive (63) a request for a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5);- aggregate (64) the respective proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the at least one first message (9) to the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5); and- send (65) the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5).

23. The ECMF (2) of claim 22, forming part of a Network Slice Admission Control Function, NSACF (3), of the mobile network (5).

24. The ECMF (2) of claim 22, forming part of a Network Data Analytics Function, NWDAF, of the mobile network (5).

25. The ECMF (2) of any one of the claims 22 - 24, the processor (21) further configured to:- perform the method (6) of operating an ECMF (2) of a mobile network (5) of any one of the claims 1 - 10.

26. A Network Slice Admission Control Function, NSACF (3), of a mobile network (5), the NSACF (3) comprising a processor (31), configured to:- receive (72) a request for admission of a User Equipment, UE, or a PDU session into a slice of the mobile network (5);- send (73) a request for a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5), the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) being associated with the slice or the UE or the PDU session;- receive (75) a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) from an Energy Consumption Monitoring Function, ECMF (2), of the mobile network (5);- evaluate (76) the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) against a number of thresholds and associated admission actions of an energy control policy; and- send (77) a third message being indicative of the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) and / or a result of the evaluation.

27. The NSACF (3) of claim 26, the processor (31) further configured to:- perform the method (7) of operating the NSACF (3) of a mobile network (5) of any one of the claims 11 - 12.

28. An Access Management Function, AMF (4a), or Session Management Function, SMF (4b), of a mobile network (5), comprising: a processor (41), configured to:- send (82) a request for admission of a User Equipment, UE, or a PDU session into a slice of the mobile network (5);- receive (87) a third message being indicative of a proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) and / or a result of an evaluation of the same against a number of thresholds and associated admission actions of an energy control policy, the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) being associated with the slice or the UE or the PDU session; and- admit (88) the UE or the PDU session into the slice in accordance with the proportionate energy consumption per time unit of the mobile network (5) and the result of the evaluation.

29. The AMF (4a) or SMF (4b) of claim 28, the processor (41) further configured to: perform the method (8) of operating an AMF (4a) or SMF (4b) of a mobile network (5) of any one of the claims 13 - 21.

30. A computer program, comprising: a program code for performing the method (6) of any one of the claims 1 - 10, the method (7) of any one of the claims 11 - 12 or the method (8) of any one of the claims 13 - 21 when executed on a computer.

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